Govt. bans sale of booze at bus terminals and roadsides

The Department of Land Transport has imposed the ban of alcohol sale by the roadside and in bus terminals nationwide. Violators will face a fine of 10,000 baht or a six-month jail term.

According to Director general Theerapong Rawdprasert, the Office of the Prime Minister has recently promulgated the law banning alcohol sales in public places, which included areas along the roadside and pavements. Moreover, selling and drinking of alcohol beverages will be prohibited at all bus terminals.

The department has also stepped up its monitoring of drivers of public transport. They will from now on be subjected to random alcohol test periodically. Drivers behind the wheels who are found to have over 0 milligram percent of alcohol in their bodies will be taken off duty; they face a fine of up to 10000 baht and/or a three-month jail term.

The move is the Thai government’s latest effort to cut the number of traffic accidents caused mainly by drivers under the influence.